Raucci asks court to free him

Retired schools official accused of numerous offenses wants bail

By PAUL NELSON Staff writer

Published 1:00 am, Thursday, August 6, 2009

SCHENECTADY— Steven Raucci is taking his fight for freedom to a state appellate court.

The retired Schenectady school facilities director, who is accused of targeting his enemies by vandalizing their property and placing explosive devices at their homes or vehicles, filed a notice of appeal to the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court in Albany.

This latest legal action on Wednesday comes two weeks after Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard C. Giardino rejected arguments by Raucci attorney Ronald DeAngelus that a lower court judge abused her discretion when she ruled in June that Raucci should remain in the county jail after testimony from prosecution witnesses in her chambers. Schenectady County Judge Polly Hoye had made a similar decision in March, a month after the Niskayuna man was arrested in his office on arson charges.

During his tenure with the school district, Raucci served as head of the district's CSEA Local 847, which covers members in Schenectady County.

He and other union leaders were ousted after his alleged misdeeds surfaced.

He later was charged in a 26-count indictment with terrorism and other offenses, including conspiracy and weapons possession related to alleged incidents in Clifton Park, Glenville, Rotterdam, Colonie and Schodack dating back to 1993. The Niskayuna man has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but has been denied bail three times. The matter has spawned several lawsuits or people asking the court to take civil action against Raucci.